Taking a Master

At the crack of dawn the next day, Chen Jing opened his eyes.

The Blood-Recovery Powder he had consumed yesterday was still working its way through his system. He could feel that his body was much lighter now, and his movements no longer felt as heavy as before.

Furthermore, the Exemption Bead in his mind was slowly accumulating energy. Based on last night's progress, it would take about two more months to fill up without the aid of medicine.

Now that his injuries were healing and his mind was clear, and with the tuition money gathered by his father and eldest sister finally sufficient...

To avoid any complications, Chen Jing tidied himself up and headed straight for the Eight Desolations Academy.

The Eight Desolations Academy was located in the bungalow district in the south of the city.

After winding through a few streets, Chen Jing soon arrived before a grand, imposing compound.

Before he even got close, the sounds of rhythmic shouting and training echoed from within, filled with the vibrant energy of martial practice.

The plaque above the main gate bore the words "Eight Desolations Academy" in bold, vigorous strokes that struck a chord in one's heart.

Chen Jing took a deep breath and raised his hand to knock on the door.

A moment later, the wooden door creaked open, and a young man in his twenties poked his head out.

"What do you want?"

The young man scanned Chen Jing from head to toe, his gaze filled with suspicion.

Chen Jing replied immediately, "I'm here to learn martial arts."

"Did you bring money?"

The young man asked coldly, clearly unimpressed by Chen Jing's impoverished appearance.

"I did."

Chen Jing answered quickly.

"Then come with—"

Just as the young man was about to step aside, an impatient voice rang out from behind him: "Junior Brother Fang, what are you doing?"

The young man paused slightly and looked back.

Chen Jing followed his gaze and saw a young man dressed in silk, holding a folding fan, stepping down from a rickshaw.

This sight made Chen Jing's heart skip a beat.

He recognized this man.

Not long ago, he had pulled a rickshaw for him. Back then, the man had been amiable and had even given him a generous tip.

Because of that, Chen Jing had held a favorable impression of him.

"Senior Brother Liu, this is a newcomer here to apprentice and learn martial arts. I was just about to take him to see the master."

Junior Brother Fang explained hurriedly.

Upon hearing this, Senior Brother Liu glanced at Chen Jing a few times, frowned, and muttered while waving his folding fan, "A stranger... but he looks somewhat familiar."

A moment later, as if he had suddenly remembered something, he tapped his fan, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Right, did I ride your rickshaw before?"

Chen Jing nodded, just about to speak.

The next second, Senior Brother Liu's expression turned icy, and his tone shifted abruptly: "What a joke! Since when has our Eight Desolations Academy fallen so low? Any stray cat or dog thinks they can come here to apprentice!"

Senior Brother Liu let out a cold snort, his eyes filled with utter contempt. "A rickshaw puller, and you think you're worthy of learning martial arts?"

With that, he flicked his fan and walked straight into the courtyard without even sparing Chen Jing another glance.

Only after Senior Brother Liu's figure had completely disappeared did Junior Brother Fang sigh and turn to Chen Jing. "My friend, you heard him. Since Senior Brother Liu doesn't like you, you'd better go back."

Chen Jing gritted his teeth. "He doesn't like me—what does that have to do with my apprenticeship?"

Now that he finally had the means to learn martial arts, how could he give up just because of one man's words?

"It has everything to do with it."

Junior Brother Fang continued, "Senior Brother Liu is from the Liu Family in the inner city and has an excellent relationship with our master. Since he has spoken, there is no chance for you to learn martial arts at the Eight Desolations Academy. If you insist, you will only bring humiliation upon yourself."

Having said that, he shut the wooden door firmly.

Looking at the closed door before him, Chen Jing clenched his fists tightly.

Just a moment ago, he had felt a sense of goodwill toward this Senior Brother Liu because of his previous friendly attitude.

Now it seemed that was nothing more than a casual handout from a benefactor to a servant; he had never been seen as a human being at all.

That so-called kindness was merely a facade, while deep down, he had always looked down on commoners like him who pulled rickshaws.

In their eyes, even his attempt to learn martial arts at the Eight Desolations Academy was an act that lowered their status!

Since the Eight Desolations Academy had rejected him, there was only one option left: the River-Breaking Martial Hall.

If the River-Breaking Martial Hall wouldn't take him either...

Then he would have to find another way.

Thinking of this, Chen Jing did not delay and immediately hurried toward the west of the city.

The River-Breaking Martial Hall was located in the bungalow district in the west of the city. Because there was a large river nearby, and the hall was situated to the west of that river, it was also known as the Hexi Martial Hall.

It was still early in the afternoon, and thanks to the stamina Chen Jing had built up from years of pulling rickshaws, he arrived at the martial hall after a brisk walk.

The plaque above the entrance bore the six large characters: River-Breaking Fei Family Martial Hall.

He knocked on the door as usual and announced his identity.

This time, no one interfered, and Chen Jing was smoothly led into the courtyard.

Inside, a dozen burly men were surrounding wooden posts, practicing their punches. The shadows of their fists cut through the air with a rhythmic thudding, each strike carrying raw power and an impressive momentum.

Under the eaves sat a sturdy, middle-aged man dressed in a brown short-sleeved jacket. He sipped tea while observing his surroundings, radiating an effortless, intimidating authority.

This was the master of the River-Breaking Martial Hall, Fei Feng.

"Master, this person is here to apprentice."

The man who brought Chen Jing in stepped forward to salute and introduced Chen Jing's background.

Fei Feng raised his eyes and asked in a direct, crisp tone: "Name, what does your family do? Did you bring the money?"

Chen Jing immediately cupped his hands and replied: "Reporting to Master Fei, my name is Chen Jing, and my family pulls rickshaws. I have long heard of your prestigious reputation and have come specifically to learn the craft. The silver is prepared."

As he spoke, Chen Jing offered the money bag with both hands.

"A rickshaw puller, eh..."

Fei Feng glanced at the money bag, then scrutinized Chen Jing from head to toe for a long moment before standing up and walking over to him.

In the next instant, Fei Feng's palm slammed onto the third rib below Chen Jing's chest!

A massive force, like a falling iron hammer, struck him. Chen Jing felt his bones go numb with a searing, stinging pain that made his eyelids twitch, yet he gritted his teeth and didn't make a sound.

Observing Chen Jing's reaction, Fei Feng nodded and said: "Your foundation is average. And given your poor background, are you really sure you want to walk this path?"

At this, Fei Feng's tone turned serious: "I'll say the ugly part first: the rule here is that if you don't show any progress within three months, you must leave the martial hall. Can you accept that?"

"Three months? I can accept it!"

Chen Jing responded without hesitation, his voice ringing with resolve, and he held up the money bag with both hands once more.

Fei Feng squeezed the bag and nodded: "The amount is exactly enough for three months of tuition."

With a casual flick, he tossed the bag, and it landed steadily on the table inside the hall, not missing by a hair.

"From today on, you stay. As for whether you can master the skills, that depends on your own fortune."

Fei Feng then beckoned to the man who had brought Chen Jing and instructed: "Zhuang Tao, take him to change his clothes, then teach him the rules."

"Yes, Master!"

The burly man, Zhuang Tao, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and smiled at Chen Jing: "My name is Zhuang Tao. I'm the fourth in the martial hall, so you can just call me Fourth Senior Brother."

"Come on, let me show you around."

The front and middle courtyards of the martial hall were the training grounds, while the backyard was the master's residence, which was generally off-limits. Beside the front courtyard were the cafeteria and the bathhouse.

After the tour, Zhuang Tao introduced the rules to Chen Jing with a serious expression: "We don't have many rules here."

"First, if a junior brother doesn't make a name for himself within three months, he is not considered an official disciple of our River-Breaking Martial Hall and may not claim the school's name in public."

"Second, uninitiated disciples only train in the front courtyard on weekdays. You must become an official disciple before you can enter the middle courtyard to train."

"Third, you must respect your master and the path, and infighting among fellow disciples is strictly forbidden."

"As for the other rules, you will naturally learn them once you become an official disciple."